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California Lake Berryessa's Glory Hole to spill over for first time in 10 years

Morning Glory Hole spillway was last used in 2006

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Updated: 8:48 AM EST Feb 17, 2017

KCRASOURCE: KCRA

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California Lake Berryessa's Glory Hole to spill over for first time in 10 years

Morning Glory Hole spillway was last used in 2006

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Updated: 8:48 AM EST Feb 17, 2017

NAPA COUNTY, Calif. (SF Gate) —

For the first time in 10 years, water is expected to flow into Lake Berryessa's unique spillway, called the Monticello Dam Morning Glory Spillway -- but commonly known as the Glory Hole.

The spillway, which operates similarly to a bathtub drain, wasn't fully spilling over Thursday morning. But when a boat buzzed across the swollen lake, or a gust of wind blew over, waves send platters into the mouth of the 8-foot-wide pipe that dumps excess water down a 200-foot-long pipe into Putah Creek.

The lake level was at 439.8 feet as of 9 a.m. Thursday and needs to rise about two inches to reach full capacity and kick the Glory Hole into full operation.

This will require heavy rain as Solano County officials have been releasing water down the main spillway of the Monticello Dam to create room for future runoff.

"We're waiting breathlessly, but not sure it's going to happen because they're also letting out water from the main spillway," said Peter Kilkus, the editor and publisher of the Lake Berryessa News. "Hopefully, this next batch of rain is what puts it over."

If this happens, the water pouring into the hole will be a sight to see. Kilkus imagines the Dam Parking Lot, offering the best views of the Glory Hill, will be busy.